Plan underway to link Dwarka, Delhi-Mumbai expressways via Southern Peripheral Road

A day after The Pioneer highlighted the traffic crisis in the millennium city of Gurugram, the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) have shared that they are working on a plan to link the Dwarka and Delhi-Mumbai expressways via Southern Peripheral Road near Vatika Chowk.

The focus of this initiative is to alleviate traffic congestion and facilitate smoother movement across the city including the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway. The development authority officials are looking for viable solutions to connect the Southern Peripheral Road (SPR) with the Sohna elevated road also known as National Highway 248A component of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.

To tackle traffic congestion in the city, the Gurugram district administration has identified 18 spots on the city roads which have reported heavy traffic movement and congestion. The officials have asked traffic police and other departments to take correctional steps in this regard. 

The proposal includes the construction of ramps at Vatika Chowk, enabling commuters to transition seamlessly between the elevated road, the SPR, and the Dwarka Expressway.

To resolve the traffic mess several meetings between GMDA and NHAI officials have taken place, with the chairman of NHAI endorsing the proposal. Speaking to The Pioneer GMDA Chief Executive Officer A. Shreeniwas said: “We are working on providing connectivity between Dwarka and Delhi-Mumbai expressways. We have already had talks with NHAI officials and in-principle approval has already been granted.”

While discussions previously considered a cloverleaf-like structure at Vatika Chowk, this idea was shelved due to spatial limitations. An NHAI official confirmed the ongoing discussions, highlighting that concrete plans are yet to be finalised. “It is still in the initial stage of discussion and nothing concrete has been worked on,” the official added.

Presently, the Dwarka Expressway links to SPR via a cloverleaf on NH-48 near Kherki Daula. However, SPR lacks a direct connection with the Sohna elevated corridor.

Commuters from SPR face either left turns at Vatika Chowk with U-turns at Subhash Chowk to access the elevated road or right turns towards Badshahpur Chowk, resulting in congestion and detours. Similarly, those utilising the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway from the Jaipur side exit the elevated road near Bhondsi for SPR access.

Residents have voiced their concerns, emphasising the need for a comprehensive approach during the planning stages.

Apart from this, the development authority is the plan to construct flyovers at two critical traffic hotspots: Dadi Sati Chowk on Southern Peripheral Road (SPR) near Sector 71/74 and Ambedkar Chowk from Hero Honda Chowk to Umang Bhardwaj Chowk near Sector 10.

These areas have long been notorious for heavy traffic jams, especially during rush hours, causing frustration and delays for commuters.

At Ambedkar Chowk, the dense population surrounding the area exacerbates traffic woes, leading to long queues and congestion. The absence of a traffic intersection further complicates the situation, making it a daily struggle for commuters. However, the proposed flyover here is set to revolutionise the traffic flow, easing the journey for those travelling between Hero Honda Chowk and Umang Bhardwaj Chowk.

Additionally, it will significantly reduce travel times for commuters coming from Huda City Centre via Subhash Chowk to Dwarka Expressway, providing a faster and smoother route.

Similarly, the planned flyover at Dadi Sati Chowk on SPR is expected to bring relief to commuters navigating this congested stretch. Despite previous efforts like the Vatika Chowk underpass and CPR, traffic jams persisted, highlighting the urgent need for further infrastructure improvements. With the GMDA’s focus on addressing these bottlenecks, commuters can look forward to a more seamless travel experience, especially along key routes like SPR leading to Dwarka Expressway and NH-48.

Likewise, The GMDA also plans to install smart traffic lights at 32 junctions in sectors 58 to 115 of Gurugram. This initiative aims to alleviate traffic congestion.

The project is part of Phase 2 of the smart traffic signal initiative and will cost `7.46 crore. The work is expected to commence in November and is scheduled for completion within six months from the award date. The installation will enhance traffic management and pedestrian movement in these areas.

In addition to improving vehicular flow, the smart lights will create green corridors prioritising emergency vehicles. Pedestrian signal lights will also be installed to ensure pedestrian safety and facilitate seamless movement at busy junctions.

Meanwhile, the Gurugram traffic police officials said that to curb traffic violations; the police have also started the process of an online challan system.

“Under this project, more than 1500 CCTV cameras have been installed on the main roads, square intersections and red lights in Gurugram, which are being operated by the Integrated Command and Control Center (ICCC) of the Police Headquarters,” Virender Vij, DCP (traffic) said.